1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Jason Kelly and Michae Lynch and I'm 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: Michael Barr. And this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: where we explore the big money issues in the world 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: of sports. Well, Happy Monday. Everyone got a lot to 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: talk about. As we always do on this Monday edition 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: of the pod, we got to talk about your field trip, 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: Michael bar Michael Barr at the races. I think I 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: this is a family show, So I'll just say, like 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: a pig in poop um, you know, they're in the Poconos, 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: I believe, So tell us about where you were, what 12 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: you saw, the look and feel. Well, it's one of 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: those things and I've been there many times, but still 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: you go into the pits. You're in the pits at 15 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: Pocono and uh it was a dual doubleheaders. The best 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: way I can describe it. They were running the trucks 17 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: on Saturday, and then they we're going to run the 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: Cup Series for another race, and then Sunday they were running, uh, 19 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: the Infinity Series and then they're running another Cup race, 20 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: which is really good. I mean, it really packs it 21 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: in for the fans, and there were a lot of 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: people in the stands too. It was neat. But when 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: you're there in the pits and the air guns sound 24 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: like the birds in the morning, I mean, it's it's great. 25 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: I love it. It is that the smell of rubber 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: and and they fuel and yeah, okay, yeah, you're right, 27 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: pig and poop. So you were actually you were down 28 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: in the in the pits. So it means you have 29 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: to wear long pants and no open toe shoes, exactly, exactly, alright, alright, 30 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 1: so what was what is to me the most impressive 31 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: thing when I'm down I was there once was the 32 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: pits stock fourteen seconds that changed four tires and low 33 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: twenty two gallons of gas? What what? What? What? Why 34 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: would you down in the pits? Well, you'll see how 35 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: everybody interacts with each other, and and you have one 36 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: person who was trying to make sure, uh that you 37 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: don't have a runaway tire, and I'm in that pit 38 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: where all of a sudden, let's let's just say, the 39 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: guy who's the head of the team runs and dives 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: over the wall to make sure that the that that 41 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: tire does not go anywhere. So he couldn't go totally 42 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: in the pits because then that's the penalty. You have 43 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: to meet him in over the ball. So he's like 44 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: leaning over the wall trying to get this tire, and 45 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: thank goodness, they caught it, so there was no penalty. 46 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: But it just it amazes me how it looks like 47 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: synchronized swimming because everybody is is coordinated. Everybody's doing their thing. 48 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: And the next year, keep in mind, this is the 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: last year for the five lug nut rule. Next year 50 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: they're gonna go to the single lug nut like they 51 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: used to have, like they still have in Indy cars, 52 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: the classic five lug nut rule. Everywhe intimately familiar with that. 53 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,399 Speaker 1: Uh So, you know, obviously we're in this mode bar 54 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: where people are getting back to watching things in person. 55 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: What was the vibe like among the crowd that you saw. 56 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: The biggest vibe was you really didn't see people with masks, 57 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: and that kind of amazed me. And and you're kind 58 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: of going by the honor system, I guess, because I 59 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: don't think you had to show proof that you were 60 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: vaccinated or anything, and so you're kind of going by 61 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: the honor system. And then on top of that, you 62 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: had people who were simply just excited to be there. 63 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: And and and we we did a couple of interviews. 64 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: We talked to the sponsor of one of the races, 65 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: which is a CBDU that they have a plant there, 66 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: and just we talked about why they were sponsoring the race. Uh. 67 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: And it was pretty interesting. So maybe later on this 68 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: week we'll have some clips of that. Yeah, looking forward 69 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: to that for sure. For sure. And the state of 70 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: racing is I feel like, you know, writing a State 71 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: of the Union sity to the State of the Union. 72 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: Is the state of racing feel strong at this point, right? 73 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: I mean, what was the business side that you got 74 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: from from talk just preview that for us a little bit, Well, 75 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: there were two things. One, you're getting more sponsors. Now. 76 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: Keep in mind, the Pocono Raceway for many years did 77 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: not have a sponsor for the races. It was just 78 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: simply the Pocono five hundred and the Pennsylvania five hundred. 79 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: And it wasn't until recently when they finally decided, Okay, 80 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: we need some sponsors. And that's one of the biggest 81 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: changes that I had seen in that Uh. And you know, 82 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: but still the Mattioli family, which they own the race track. Uh, 83 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: they still are a strong presence. We were talking about 84 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: that off air that usually you know, if there was 85 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: a NASCAR track that you would see it like with 86 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: the Daytona and the Nascar family, the France family owns it, 87 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: you'll see this heavy presence of NASCAR. But with the 88 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: Mattioli family, Uh, it's a lot of local businesses up 89 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: there that are sponsoring and that's something that's very good 90 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: for the local community. Well, and I did hear VR do, 91 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: Sir Charlie Volmer that one person who was notably present 92 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: is relatively new owner to the sport. Michael Jordan's there 93 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: in the pit with Bubble Wallace. So the Bubble Wallace 94 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: is team I should say, yeah, it's I. I don't 95 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: care what anybody says. You get up close and personal, 96 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: you see all of these guys, you see Michael Jordan's, 97 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: you see the cars up close before they wreck, and 98 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: it really is a sight to see. And if anybody 99 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: can go see a race, go do it, because it's 100 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: to me, it's a lot like going to a hockey game. 101 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: It's one one thing to see a hockey game on TV, 102 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: but when you see it in person, it's a totally 103 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: different experience. Yeah. Well, and and listen, we know that 104 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: among the most popular sports in the world and certainly 105 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: here in the United States, Uh, fast cars, they draw 106 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: a ton ton ton of interest and money and sponsorship dollars. 107 00:05:54,680 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: And that is only continuing. Uh. Well, Lynchi, speaking of owners, Uh, 108 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: let's go to the West coast. Look at the Los 109 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: Angeles Dodgers owners. Uh, they're getting into the basketball business, 110 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: specifically with the Los Angeles Lakers. Uh. Minority share sale 111 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: happening there with the with the Lakers, Phil and Chutz 112 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: is selling his steak to a couple of nearby owners, 113 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: the l A Dodgers, Todd Bolli uh leading that effort. 114 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: This is really interesting as you start to see these empires, 115 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: I think, expanding across various sports. Yeah, they just pretty 116 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: soon are going to join this elite group like Liberty 117 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: Media that owns Formula Run in the Braves, Cronky who 118 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: owns the Rams, Arsenal, the Denver Nuggets and the Avs, 119 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: and the Fenway Sports Group. That's what I see developing 120 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: and working out in Los Angeles with this little marriage 121 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: between the Dodgers and the Lakers too. Um brands recognizable 122 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: around the planet to very successful of franchises and brands, 123 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: and it's you know, the way of the sports world now, 124 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: the professional sports world is get big or get out. Yeah, 125 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: it's pretty amazing. And the other I think notable thing 126 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: about this deal, which was written about quite a bit, 127 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: including buy our pals over at Sportico, is we get 128 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: a new valuation for the Dodgers, excuse me, for the 129 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: Lakers five billion dollars give or take. And uh, I 130 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: mean Lynch. It's also interesting. Five billion dollars is no 131 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: small amount of money, clearly just on the face of it, 132 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: but also the rise in valuations across all sports teams, 133 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: but especially the NBA. I mean, that is a tremendous 134 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: amount of money and starts to pivot back to what 135 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: you were saying before. Starts to, I think, point toward 136 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: a future where you are going to have these empires 137 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: building because no one else is going to be able 138 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,679 Speaker 1: to afford these teams. You know. I happened to start 139 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: with the on the golf course on Friday with the 140 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: head of the Fenmiway Sports Group and I talked to 141 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: him about this very subject here, the Lakers and the Dodgers, 142 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: and he said well, he said, John Henry is keeping 143 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: a keen eye on that, and he is not done 144 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: accumulating professional franchises. And I said NBA, and he just 145 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: smiled and said, We'll wait and see. So people are 146 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: not standing still here, and you're right, these they are empires. 147 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: They look at that Liberty Media Group and I just 148 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: mentioned the Cronkey group in the Family Sports Group. Now, 149 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: pretty soon this Lakers Dodgers union here is going to 150 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: become some type of They're gonna gobble up a soccer 151 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: team in Europe, They're probably gonna gobble up an MLS team, 152 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: and they're going to join these other elite empires and 153 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: powerful sports entities. Well, and in some ways you saw 154 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: the blueprint of this starting to form. I mean, obviously 155 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: Fenway was there with with Liverpool, I believe just ahead 156 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: of or around the same time that saw Harris Blitzer. 157 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: Of course, the owners of the uh New Jersey Devils 158 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: and the owners of the Philadelphia seventy six is also 159 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: get into the English football business with Crystal Palace. So 160 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: there you have, you know, three of the world's biggest sports. 161 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,559 Speaker 1: They don't have an NFL team and they don't have 162 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: an MLB team. Yet although they did make that the 163 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: Harris Splitzer reportedly did make a play for the Mets, 164 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: which obviously ultimately went to Stevie Cohen. Um and you know, 165 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: A rod And and j Low were in the mix 166 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: there too. Uh. And I believe actually Harris Splitzer they 167 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: have a minority stake in the Steelers. Um, so they're 168 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL business and in a small way. Uh. 169 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: But this is where it's going and it will be 170 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: interesting to see. This is a media play, it's a 171 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: sports play, it's you know, a merch play, all of 172 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: these different things. But the big, the big are getting bigger, 173 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: that is for sure. Well. Uh, one big thing that 174 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: we should talk about that's on the calendar is Wimbledon. 175 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: But Bibldon is really going to be light on stars. Uh, 176 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: Simona Hallip is not playing Dominique, Team Rafa, not playing 177 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: Naomi of course, Socca not playing Stan Marienka and others 178 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: all going to skip out on on strawberries and cream. 179 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: And uh, I don't know that that doesn't bode well 180 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: for for the rest of the summer and candidly for 181 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: viewership and the business of tennis. Lyndji No, I mean, 182 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,199 Speaker 1: it's it's like, would you watch the Masters if tiger 183 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: Woods wasn't there. Well, obviously a lot of people didn't 184 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: think because they want Tiger Woods to be in the Masters. 185 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 1: And it's the same thing with with Wimbledon. This is 186 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: very a very thin field right here. It's probably an 187 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: automatic for Serena just to make it all the way 188 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: to the finals right now, unless some injury knocks her out. 189 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: And it's too bad because these people are making so 190 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: much money the incentive. You know, Serena's one enough. I mean, 191 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: she's out of the Olympics as as we said, but 192 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: she's in Wimbledon, and maybe they've won enough and maybe 193 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: they're you know, the the itch has been scratched and 194 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: it's not there anymore. Well, it seems like a real 195 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: moment of transition in the world of pro tennis on 196 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: both the men's and the women's side. A new generation 197 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,439 Speaker 1: coming along. So we'll see how that emerges. I mean. 198 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: The good news and we've talked about it on this 199 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: program already, but I will continue to talk about it 200 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: because I'm so excited is that, you know, the US 201 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: Open is going to be played in front of a 202 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: full house of fans at at ash and on the 203 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: grounds there of the Billy Jean King Tennis Center over 204 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: in Flushing, Queens and you know that will be exciting 205 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 1: and hopefully you're going to have a lot of these 206 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: names who are sitting out some of the early tournaments 207 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: or withdrawing from the earlier Grand Slams there. I do 208 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: want to wrap up if we can talking a little baseball. 209 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: We talked about this last week and sort of the 210 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: ham fisted way. Uh, if I may editorialize a bit 211 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: on how Major League Baseball is dealing with the stickiness 212 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: of this foreign substance issue, Michael Barr. This this came 213 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: up in a big way over the weekend because you 214 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: had the first ejection Hector Santiago playing for the Mariners. 215 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 1: He was actually thrown out. He protested and basically said, listen, 216 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: I was just using rosin. That's that's totally kosher. Uh, 217 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: this is getting uglier before it gets better. It feels like, yeah, 218 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: this happened in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox. 219 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: And if it was indeed rosen, because sometimes rosen, I 220 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: don't know, I mean, sometimes rosin can get sticky, especially 221 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: if it's humid. You know, it will have a sticky 222 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: feel to it. If that's exactly what happened, now we 223 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: got a problem. It's well, you have a legal substance 224 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: that is not that was just banned. So I'd like 225 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: to see where this is gonna go. Because he's looking 226 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: at a ten game suspension. It's comical the glove was 227 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,599 Speaker 1: placed in an authentication bag and then being shipped to 228 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: New York for analysis. This is basically C s I 229 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: MLB right now. And you know, are we really going 230 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: to get this deep into this thing? This has almost 231 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: become a farce. Uh, this stuff has been going on 232 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: for a long long time. Maybe it was rosin. I 233 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: don't know if it was some pine tower or some 234 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: other substance in Santiago. Wasn't a very bright guy because 235 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: it's it's not you can't hide it in the glove. 236 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: It's gonna be better hiding places here. But if he 237 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: gets suspended for ten games, they can't replace him on 238 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: the roster. Now here's a picture, so that's a little 239 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: bit different from an everyday player. But this, this is 240 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 1: you know, unfortunately, this is the only thing that's interesting 241 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: about Major League Baseball right now. Now, that's the thing 242 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: that and they talked about this last week. I mean 243 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: that that to me is the worst part about this 244 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: is that no one's talking about, you know, kind of 245 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: where we are at this point in the season, or 246 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: who's surging and you know who looks like they may 247 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: make a deal later on in the season to make 248 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: a deep run into the playoffs. This is all anybody 249 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: can talk about a baseball And if that's the story, 250 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,599 Speaker 1: if you're Rob Manfred in the commissioner's office, this is 251 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: this is not going well for you. Uh. Meanwhile, we 252 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: are headed toward the finals, getting closer and closer in 253 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: both the NHL UH and the NBA. UH. Local NHL 254 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: fans here in New York City sad to see the 255 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: Islanders eliminated. Uh. John Ladecki and his crew made a 256 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: gallant effort there to try and win one last title 257 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: uh there in Nassau Coliseum, but couldn't quite get there. 258 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: And so now you have this sort of weird thing 259 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: with two Eastern Conference teams matching up for the finals. 260 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: Just but and this is keep me honest here, Lynchi, 261 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: I mean this is because you had basically a reorganized 262 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: NHL owing to COVID, right, yes, and when the NHL 263 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: expanded in the late sixties. Um the all the expansion 264 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: teams were put in. They created a Western Division and 265 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: they had teams like the Philadelphia Flyers were in the 266 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: Western Division. Well, the St. Louis Blues played the every 267 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: every team that won the Western Division was automatically in 268 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: the Stanley Cup Finals and they got obliterated. So in 269 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: the early seventies, the National Hockey League took the whole 270 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: Eastern and Western Conference, seated him one through sixteen, and 271 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: that's how they played. So in seventy like the Bruins 272 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: played the Montreal Canadians in the Stanley Cup Finals, and 273 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: that's how the Islanders and the Flyers wound up playing 274 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: back in nineteen eighty. Then we since have gone to 275 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: different divisions and conferences. I like it. I like it 276 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: that you get two East Coast teams. It would have 277 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: been nice we're at the Islanders and the Canadians. That 278 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: would have been, you know, pretty nostalgic. I think it's 279 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: good for hockey that the Canadians are back in It's 280 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: the first time in nearly thirty years that the Canadians 281 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: are in there, and there's so much history there and 282 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: so much tradition it's sort of like having like the Yankees, 283 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: Yeah exactly, the halves. Yeah, it'll be it'll be fun 284 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: to watch. And on the NBA side, uh, you know, 285 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: we'll see the you know, we had a lot of 286 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: exciting uh second round games and now the conference finals 287 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: on on either end. You know, we're recording this on Monday. 288 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: And the Hawks had a tough loss last night at 289 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: home versus the Bucks. And you know, one of these 290 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: freak freak moments where Trey Young, the unmitigated superstar of 291 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: the unassailable superstar it seemed, of the Hawks, literally twists 292 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: his ankle on the ref. I mean, it's just like, 293 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: you can't you sort of can't make it up. But 294 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: something was bound to happen. I'm not sure if anybody 295 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: had had a betting line on Trey Young gets hurt 296 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: by twisting his ankle on the ref, I would love 297 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: to see it. Nobody nobody had that line, and nobody 298 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: would take They weren't taking the points on that one. 299 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: It was. It was bad. I will say that it's 300 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: been it's been a fun playoffs to watch so far. 301 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously the sun's looking looking very good 302 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: and let's see how how this all shakes out, but 303 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: some good storylines and uh and you know, we'll see 304 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: if people continue to tune in. Ratings have not been 305 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: great on that side, so depending on how it all 306 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: shakes out, we shall see. This is the Bloomberg Business 307 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: of Sports podcast. I'm Michael Barn. You can follow me 308 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. And I'm Mike Lynch. 309 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: Happy that Michael Barr made it safely back from the 310 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: Pocono five hundred can follow me Lynch e w CBB, 311 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: and I'm Jason Kelly. Find me at Jason Kelly News. 312 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: We're here each and every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday exploring 313 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: the world for money and sports. You're listening to Bloomberg 314 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around the world, What 315 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: I did there and online wherever you get your podcasts.